Task – ‘Open-source’ task. Theory – 10 point task – a ‘Open-source’ task. Find/identify main postulates of given great thinker/scholar [from Martin Griffiths

POSSIBILISM AND EXCEPTIONALISM [PAUL VIDAL DE LA BLACHE]
Paul Vidal de la Blache was a French geographer who developed the theory of Possibilism and Exceptionalism. The main postulates of his theory are:

1. 
   Possibilism: This postulate argues that physical and environmental factors do not determine the development of human society. Rather, it is the ability of human beings to adapt and modify their environment that determines the nature of society. This means that human societies can develop in a variety of ways, depending on the possibilities offered by the physical environment.
   
2. 
   Exceptionalism: This postulate argues that there are certain unique and exceptional physical environments, such as mountain ranges, rivers, and seas, which shape the development of human societies in a particular way. These exceptional environments lead to the development of unique cultures, economies, and societies that are different from those of other regions.
   
3. 
   Integrative perspective: This postulate argues that physical and environmental factors must be considered in conjunction with other factors, such as culture, history, and politics, to fully understand the development of human societies.
   

Relevant illustrations of events/cases in IR include:

1. 
   The development of river valley civilizations, such as the Nile and Indus River civilizations, which were shaped by the unique physical environments of these rivers.
   
2. 
   The influence of the Alps on the development of the Swiss Confederacy, which has a unique culture and economy that is distinct from the rest of Europe.
   
3. 
   The role of the Himalayas in shaping the cultural and political development of Tibet and Nepal, which have been largely isolated from the rest of the world due to their mountainous terrain.
   

alexander de seversky
Alexander de Seversky was a Russian-American aviation pioneer and a political analyst who propounded the theory of "Victory through Air Power". The main postulates of this theory can be summarized as follows:

1. 
   Air power is a decisive factor in modern warfare.
   
2. 
   Air power should be used to destroy the enemy's ability to wage war, rather than simply to capture territory.
   
3. 
   The control of the air is a key component of military strategy, and air superiority is essential for victory.
   

An illustration of this theory in International Relations can be seen in the strategic bombing campaigns of World War II. The bombing of German cities by the Allies was aimed at destroying the enemy's industrial and military capabilities, rather than capturing territory. This demonstrated the impact that air power can have on the outcome of a conflict, and the importance of air superiority in modern warfare.